I want him. I love him. But I don’t know if he feels the same way about me — GabeI cherish him. I need him. But I don’t think I have any love left to give him — Cam

A year has passed since Cam Sorvino challenged Gabe Anderson to grant him one night of torrid sex. Now living together and settled in a scorching hot relationship, Cam is happy with things as they are. Until the day Gabe says the three little words Cam is most afraid to hear.

Having overcome the terrible scars of his own past, Gabe knows Cam still has his own demons to fight. But when Gabe inadvertently confesses his love, he can only watch helplessly as Cam distances himself from their relationship.

Will Cam’s fear of having his heart ripped apart drive away the only man he’s ever truly cared for? Or will Gabe finally convince Cam to dare embrace a future with him?

Find out if Gabe and Cam find their happy ever after in this third novella in the hot, contemporary romance series Nights by A.M. Salinger. Note from the author: although each book in Nights can be read as a standalone, you will enjoy this series better if you read the books in order!

Gabe gave his inbox a final glance, logged off, and rose from his desk. He glanced out of the panoramic windows to his left as he shrugged into his suit jacket.

Dusk cast red and orange streaks across the sky above Tokyo, the light washing through the glass and painting amber shadows on the crisp white walls of his office. He looked at his watch, cursed under his breath, and grabbed his bag.

He was five minutes late.

Gabe’s gaze collided with a curious stare as he turned toward the door. A man with dark blond hair and blue eyes stood watching him, one shoulder propped against the frame.

“Got plans for the weekend?” he drawled, cocking an elegant eyebrow.

Gabe smiled, hoping his restlessness didn’t show.

“Yes, I do.”

Rhys Damon studied him for a moment longer before letting out a sigh.

“Ah, to be in love and shacked up.”

Gabe felt his ears grow warm at his boss’s teasing expression.

“I wouldn’t go as far as that,” he mumbled.

“I thought you’d moved in with him,” Rhys said, surprise flashing in his blue gaze. “What’s it been? Six months?”

“I did, and it’s been six and a half,” Gabe muttered.

Not that I’m counting.

He swallowed a groan at Rhys’s sudden sly grin.

“I just sent you the final plans for the Hudson resort,” Gabe said. “Let me know—”

“Rhys!” someone suddenly barked from across the expanse of the open-plan office space outside.

They turned and stared at the hulking, dark-haired man standing in the doorway of a glass room on the opposite side of the floor. Wade Tucker—the other brain behind the incredibly successful, multi-award-winning Chicago-based design firm currently taking Tokyo by storm—scowled at Rhys.

Rhys grimaced.

“It seems the big bad wolf has awakened.” He glanced at Gabe. “Quick, run before he sinks his teeth into you too.”

Gabe hurried toward the elevator and glanced over his shoulder at the two men facing each other stiffly across the empty office. He doubted he was the only one who had noticed the increasing tension between the firm’s partners over the last year.

Best friends since their college days, Rhys Damon and Wade Tucker had followed in each other’s footsteps throughout their early careers, often as rivals bidding for the same contracts. They’d finally set up shop as Damon & Tucker. Twelve years on and their company was now among the top twenty in the business for luxury interior design, consulting, and branding, catering to some of the most exclusive resorts and hotel chains around the world, as well as affluent private clients.

All thoughts of his bosses’ woes fled Gabe’s mind when he exited the lift and entered the lobby of the glass-and-steel edifice that housed the Tokyo branch of the firm.

A man stood leaning against a navy-blue Jaguar saloon parked at the curb outside, hands tucked in the pockets of his tailored suit and powerful legs crossed at the ankles. He seemed oblivious to the stares he was drawing from the passersby and office workers leaving the building, his eyes focused on the foyer.

Although the car was a stunning piece of art and engineering, Gabe knew it was its dark-haired owner who had captured the avid interest of the men and women openly ogling him.

Gabe’s pulse jumped when he met the man’s gunmetal stare through the glass wall. He still couldn’t quite believe that he was going out with Cam Sorvino, the king of one-night stands. His gaze dropped from Cam’s stunning face and full lips, to his stubbled jaw and hard physique.

Nor can I believe I’ve had sex with that gorgeous body.

Heat warmed Gabe’s cheeks when he recalled the last time they’d shared a bed.

It had been over a week ago, a fact that had obviously frustrated Cam as he barely let Gabe sleep that night. His job as an asset manager for one of the biggest investment firms in Asia had taken him to Singapore for most of the last month and he only returned to Tokyo on the weekends, often late on Saturday afternoons.

Though Gabe loved nothing more than being in Cam’s arms, he knew the commute was taking its toll on his lover, which was why he’d asked Cam to fly back early this week.

Cam’s gaze grew heavy-lidded as Gabe crossed the sidewalk and approached the car. Gabe knew that if it wasn’t for the people around them, Cam would have pulled him into his embrace and kissed him senseless. Gabe stifled a sigh, somewhat grateful for their audience.

Once they started touching each other, there would be no stopping them. And Cam’s libido had turned voracious as of late, his appetite not even remotely quenched until they’d had at least four rounds of toe-curling sex and Gabe’s voice was hoarse from crying and moaning in pleasure.

“I’ve packed us a couple of overnight bags, like you instructed,” Cam said in a smoky voice that sent tingles down Gabe’s spine as he opened the passenger door of the Jag. “So, where are we headed, Mr. Anderson?”

Gabe slipped onto the cream leather seat and waited until Cam climbed in beside him before giving him the address of the place he’d booked them in for the weekend.

Cam raised an eyebrow.

“The beach?” His lips curved. “Does this mean I get to see you in swim trunks?”

Gabe’s pulse skittered at the passionate gleam in the gray eyes watching him.

“It’s a hot springs, so, no.”

Cam grinned.

“Even better. You’ll be naked.”

Gabe rolled his eyes as Cam started the engine and steered the Jag around.

Although the drive to the Izu Peninsula took over two hours, the time flew by while they chatted about their week, soft jazz music playing from the speakers as the vehicle ate away the miles.

Cam’s eyes widened when he drove into the paved courtyard of the traditional Japanese inn sitting on the small spur of land jutting out from the coastline, the headlights briefly illuminating the golden stretch of sand leading to the Pacific Ocean. He parked the car, his gaze lingering on the open vista before switching to Gabe.

“Nice.”

Gabe smiled, a flutter of excitement sending his pulse racing at the night he’d planned for them.

“I’m glad you like it.”

They collected their bags from the trunk and headed for the entrance.

Cam hesitated when they reached the porch, his hand on the handle of the front door.

“You didn’t design this one too, did you?”

Gabe blinked. His ears grew hot as he suddenly recollected the exclusive Tokyo hotel where they’d first made love a year ago. It was where he’d also rather splendidly lost his cherry to the magnificent man beside him. Gabe’s cock twitched as he thought of that night. Though sex with Cam always blew his mind, their first time together was incredibly precious to Gabe.

It was Cam who had finally helped him overcome the trauma of his past, when he’d nearly been raped by five men who’d paid his then boyfriend to tape their vile acts on camera, leaving him unable to sleep with anyone for over eight years despite regularly seeing a therapist. The gentle yet passionate way Cam had made love to him that time, how Cam had engraved his touch and scent on Gabe’s body until he utterly and completely lost himself in the act, how he’d brought Gabe to one earth-shattering climax after another—all of it were priceless memories Gabe would take to his grave. Not that he would ever admit this to Cam.

Gabe chuckled at his lover’s guarded expression.

“No, I didn’t design this place.”

Relief flashed across Cam’s face.

“Good. I’d seriously feel as if I were committing blasphemy otherwise.” Cam sniffed. “Not that sex with you isn’t the most unholy, wicked thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. I mean, there’s some stuff we’ve done that I—”

“Shut up, Cam!” Gabe hissed, clamping a hand over Cam’s mouth as a hostess headed across the foyer toward them.

Cam grinned and licked Gabe’s palm. Gabe swallowed a groan at the tingle that shot through him.

This erotic asshole.

Author Bio:

Ava Marie Salinger is the pen name of an Amazon bestselling thriller author who has always wanted to write scorching hot contemporary and erotic romance. In 2017, she finally decided to venture to the steamy side. NIGHTS is the first of several sizzling series featuring sweet, sexy men and women with dark pasts and a whole lot of love to give to the ones brave enough to fight for their hearts. When she’s not dreaming up hotties to write about, you’ll find Ava creating kickass music playlists to write to, spying on the wildlife in her garden, drooling over gadgets, and eating Chinese.

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